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25 March 57

My own dear child

It was indeed a surprise our dear Appy
return home. Mr Brown came here on Saturday evening at the hour
he usually comes after my tea bread had been ordered / I was in the
pantry dear Butler came in put his hand on my shoulder & said
who do you think is coming in the boat tonight? I could not guess
(being not much of a yankee) he then told me Mr Brown was
in the parlor & brought a message from Mr Grant as well as a
note to Cugler from that gentleman stating that Fraser would
escort Appy from Darien, (where the ladies of his family would
leave the St-Margo) to Hamilton. At the time I had no idea a thunder
storm was brewing. Cugler got his supper in all haste &
prepared to start for Hamilton to await the arrival of the boats
He had scarcely left before it began to thunder with vivid flashes
of lightning & the wind blew furiously _ I dreaded some accident
to the dear boy on his way. I still more feared the steamers being
blown against the marsh or not being able to near the wharf
I could not sleep until past twelve _ listening for the
whistle dear Butler also kept awake _ nod however I did
from after twelve until 2 when I was fully aroused by
the long far whistle. As soon as Butler heard it he whistled
too _ us as much as to say "all safe" _ before this time

25 March 57

My own dear child

It was indeed a surprise our dear Appy
return home. Mr Brown came here on Saturday evening at the hour
he usually comes after my tea bread had been ordered / I was in the
pantry dear Butler came in put his hand on my shoulder & said
who do you think is coming in the boat tonight? I could not guess
(being not much of a yankee) he then told me Mr Brown was
in the parlor & brought a message from Mr Grant as well as a
note to Cugler from that gentleman stating that Fraser would
escort Appy from Darien, (where the ladies of his family would
leave the St-Margo) to Hamilton. At the time I had no idea a thunder
storm was brewing. Cugler got his supper in all haste &
prepared to start for Hamilton to await the arrival of the boats
He had scarcely left before it began to thunder with vivid flashes
of lightning & the wind blew furiously _ I dreaded some accident
to the dear boy on his way. I still more feared the steamers being
blown against the marsh or not being able to near the wharf
I could not sleep until past twelve _ listening for the
whistle dear Butler also kept awake _ nod however I did
from after twelve until 2 when I was fully aroused by
the long far whistle. As soon as Butler heard it he whistled
too _ us as much as to say "all safe" _ before this time